THE nights might be getting colder and those east coast lows are ensuring its wet and bleak outside.

However, for Newcastle garage two-piece Wavevom it’s always summer. The No-Fi Records lads are preparing to release their second album Eternal Summer, their ode to warm weather and hedonism.

Wavevom frontman Jed Kirbyshire said unlike previous releases there was a strong theme of the beach and late-night parties articulated throughout the record.

“I reckon that actually makes it stronger as a lot of the songs are about missing summer,” Kirbyshire said. “Even though it’s winter and it’s called Eternal Summer I feel the content and what we’re trying to push about the dream of it always being summer is somewhat appropriate.”

Wavevom will perform a “going-away show” at the Lass O’Gowrie on June 29 before heading on their month-long east coast tour. On their return they will play an all-ages show at The Commons in Hamilton on July 22 and an 18-plus show at the Cambridge Hotel on July 28.

CAMBO SELL OUT

WASN’T Netflix or YouTube meant to have killed the live music scene? Certainly not in Newcastle.

If you ever required proof about Novocastrians’ love of watching bands it was delivered in emphatic fashion last weekend. On Friday night about 1000 people jammed into the Cambridge Hotel’s two music rooms to watch punk bands Dune Rats and The Hard Aches.

It was the first time since the Cambridge underwent its mass renovations late last year to expand the glasshouse to 800 people and open the 200-capacity warehouse space that both rooms were sold out on the same night.

Another 600 people attended Sampa The Great and Dustin Tebbutt and Lisa Mitchell’s shows on Saturday and Sunday.

“It was a huge result,” the Cambridge’s Dru Russell said. “A lot of people had tickets for both shows.”

Much of the Newcastle West venue’s recent success has been due to the creation of the warehouse room, which regularly caters for emerging local acts. On Saturday night the Cambridge held the final leg of the DIY Wicking Out festival.

“Before they had to play in the big room and it was just cavernous and there wasn’t a vibe,” Russell said. “It wasn’t helping them and the Wicking Out festival on Saturday had a great little vibe. It’s allowed us to have a space for the locals to develop and work their way up hopefully.”

TOWN OF BLUES

BLUES devotees in Newcastle are spoiled for choice this Saturday night.

At the Stag and Hunter Hotel Australian Lloyd Spiegel is keeping the tradition alive, while one of America’s new masters, Kirk Fletcher, will play at the Unorthodox Church Of Groove.

Fletcher, 41, has built a stellar career by playing with luminaries like Charlie Musselwhite and Joe Bonamassa.

FRESHLY SQUEEZED

FOR anyone hankering for another Angus and Julia Stone record, Dope Lemon has been an quality substitution.

Angus Stone’s solo project has delivered a slightly more edgy version of his classic indie-folk sound with the album Honey Bones (2016) and EP Hounds Tooth (2017).

Stone and his sister released their comeback single Snow on Wednesday and are touring Europe in October. Before that Dope Lemon is going on one final run, which stops at the Cambridge Hotel on July 13.

NASHVILLE STAR

AUSTRALIAN actress Clare Bowen has been playing a musician for five years in the role of Scarlett O’Connor in the hit TV series Nashville. She’s obviously learnt a thing or two about the industry because the 33-year-old is embarking on her own music career. This week Bowen released her debut single, Little By Little, and she will launch a 10-date tour in July. Bowen performs at the Civic Theatre on July 10.

VIPER FIREWORK

NEWCASTLE country rockers The Viper Creek Band have kept the flame burning for their album Just Press Play by releasing its third single Firework on Tuesday.

The ballad about an intense, yet short-lived romance, was written by Nashville CMA songwriter of the year/producer Shane McAnally and Trevor Rosen.

The Viper Creek Band released their fourth record Just Press Play last year, which has already spawned the successful singles Rockstars and the title track. They play the Wickham Park Hotel on June 24.

FORTUNATE GIG

THE hype has been building around New Zealand-bred Melbourne-based duo Fortunes. They’ve signed with Flume and Nick Murphy’s trendy label Future Classic and their third EP Undress has attracted new fans with tracks like Focus.

Producer Barnaby Matthews and vocalist Conor McCabe are bringing their electronic hip-hop to Newcastle on August 18 when Fortunes play at the Cambridge Hotel.